Earlier this month Malmstrom AFB, Mont., served as the site for the inaugural meeting of the Air Force Global Strike Command-initiated ICBM Sustainment General Officer Steering Group, reports Associated Press (via CBS 4 TV). According to a Malmstrom release, Ann Mitchell, AFGSC’s director of installations, logistics, and mission support, who led the meeting, said it was intended to gather all players “involved with sustainment, modernization, program management, providers, contractors, supply chain, and the acquisition life cycle together … as an enterprise,” so AFGSC “can make more informed decisions about where to spend that next dollar.” Col. Michael Fortney, 341st Missile Wing commander, said it provided “an opportunity for us to voice our biggest challenges to people who can make decisions.” According to AP, Mitchell’s deputy, Col. Kevin Betz, said the steering group plans to meet every six months to orchestrate “priorities and synergies.” (Malmstrom report by Valerie Mullett)
No sooner had the Defense Intelligence Agency issued its North Korean Military Power report, in which it predicted Pyongyang would resume ballistic missile tests, than North Korea did exactly that, lofting a submarine-launched ballistic missile Oct. 19. The test, in which an SLBM launched from the port of Sinpo into…